The Pianist Review: A Survivor's Story, Quietly Told
9/10 — The Pianist (2002)
Pros
- Brody's transformative performance
- Haunting recreation of Warsaw
- Powerful restraint
Cons
- Emotionally distant at times
- Director's controversial background
Based on the memoir of Władysław Szpilman, the film follows a Polish-Jewish pianist who survives the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto and the war by hiding in the ruins. Polanski, himself a ghetto survivor, directs with a cold, observational eye.
What works
Adrien Brody won an Oscar for a performance of physical and emotional transformation, and the film never exaggerates Szpilman’s heroism. The images of a destroyed Warsaw are haunting, and the final scene with a German officer and a piano is unforgettable.
Where it falters
The detached tone keeps the audience at a distance, and Polanski’s personal history makes some viewers uncomfortable.
Verdict
Devastating and beautifully restrained, with an exceptional lead performance.
